Improvement in heel-plates for boots and shoes



S. C. -SWETTl Heel-,Plates for Boots and Shoes'.

Patented May 27, 1879.

WI TJV ESSES UNITED STATES ATENT FI SULLIVAN C. SWETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO NELSON LYON, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEEL-PLATES FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,839, dated May 27, 1879; application tiled March 20, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SULLIVAN CLARK SWETT, of Washington, in the county of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in HeeLPlates for Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved heel-plate for boots and shoes which will be more simple in construction than those hitherto used, while possessing all their advantages, with others peculiar to itself.

My heel-plate is also cheap to manufacture, easily applied, and durable in use. Y

My invention consists of a circular plate and angular plate fitted thereto, both adapted to be independently attached to the heel; also, in hollowing out the upper surface of the revolving plate and interposing a disk of rubber or other elastic material between said revolvingplate and the heel; and, in general, in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, as fully hereinafter explained.

In reference t0 the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view; Fig. 2, a bottom View; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 a view showing the shape of both plates.

A represents the heel of a boot or shoe to' which my plate is to be attached. B is the revolving plate, which is attached to the rear portion of the heel by the screw a passing through its center into the heel, forming a pivot, upon which the plate revolves. The upper side of this plate is hollowed out from the edges toward the center, as shown in Fig. 3. This serves to make the heel lighter, while it does not impair its strength, the principal part of the wear coming upon the extreme edge of the plate, where the metal is of full thickness.

A disk of rubber or other elastic material (shown at b) is interposed between this plate B and the heel, which deadens the noise which might otherwise result in walking, and gives elasticity to the revolving plate.

In devices hitherto used, a solid metal plate covered the entire heel, having an offset cast upon its forward portion, so that when a revolving plate was placed thereon the surface of the offset would be flush with that of the revolving plate. This, it will be readily seen, greatly increased the weight and expense without apparently producing any advantage.

To simplify this construction and secure lightness and cheapness, I simply attach to the forward portion of the heel a small metal plate, C, of the same thickness as the revolving plate. This plate C is rigidly attached to the heel by screws, as shown.

I thus dispense with a large quantity of useless metal without in any way impairing the efficiency of the device.

The revolving plate B is screwed tightly enough to the heel to prevent its being movedexcept when the screw is loosened,which may be done whenever one portion of the plate becomes worn down.

The under surface of the plate B may be roughened or corrugated to prevent slipping.

I propose to make these plates of steel; but any metal, such as iron or brass, may be used, if so desired.

The advantages of my device, as before intimated, lie principally in the simplicity and cheapness of its construction, and in its convenience and durability.

I am aware that it is old to attach a plate to the heel of a boot or shoe, such plate having offsets upon its face, and to secure a circular revolving plate thereto by a central screw or pivot passing through both plates into the heel ofthe boot or shoe, and I do not claim the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the solid heel of a boot or shoe, of a revolving metallic plate, B, hollowed or recessed on its upper side, and secured directly to the heel by a central screw, an independent auxiliary plate, C, covering only the foward portion of the heel, and an interposed elastic disk between the plate B and the heel, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 1st day of March, 1879.

- SULLIVAN CLARK SWETT.

IYitnesses:

A. E. L. KnEsE, FRANKLIN H. MAGNET. 

